Yogyakarta, 18/9/2025 — The Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a guest lecture for the course Comprehensive Korean I under the theme “흥미로운 세상: EPS TOPIK and Korean Language for Migrant Workers.” The event took place at the Soegondo Building Auditorium and featured program alumnus Adam Ferdian Bagastama, S.Hum., as the main speaker.

In his presentation, Adam shared firsthand experiences about the career prospects for graduates of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program. He previously worked as a translator at a textile factory producing footwear before becoming an instructor at LPK Hankuk Sippo in Tulungagung, East Java. Each year, the institution trains more than 200 participants preparing to join the official Indonesia–Korea government-to-government (G to G) employment program.

Adam also explained that one of the main requirements for joining the program is passing the EPS TOPIK (Employment Permit System – Test of Proficiency in Korean), a language proficiency test focused on practical and job-specific vocabulary relevant to fields such as manufacturing, fisheries, shipbuilding, and services.

To provide a real experience, students were invited to take part in a quiz consisting of EPS TOPIK-style questions. Aura, one of the participants, admitted that the questions were quite challenging. “The quiz was difficult because the vocabulary was very specific and different from what we usually learn in class,” she said.

Through this guest lecture, students are expected not only to understand the importance of mastering Korean academically but also to gain a clearer picture of concrete career opportunities after graduation, both within Indonesia and through official employment programs in South Korea.

Author: Sherina Azmi A

Yogyakarta, September 17, 2025 – The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a public lecture titled “Historiography of Indonesian Islam.” The event featured Yumi Sugahara, a scholar from Osaka University, as a visiting lecturer to discuss cross-national perspectives in writing the history of Indonesian Islam.

In her presentation, Sugahara emphasized that historiography is not merely “a record of events,” but also reflects cultural perspectives in constructing historical narratives. She highlighted the differences between Japanese and Indonesian historians, particularly in relation to the intersections of Islam, culture, and national history.

Several significant scholarly works were referenced in her lecture, including M.C. Ricklefs’ A History of Modern Indonesia since c.1200 (4th edition, Macmillan Education UK, 2008), regarded as one of the most authoritative references in modern Indonesian historiography, and Anthony Reid’s Southeast Asia in the Age of Commerce, 1450–1680 (Yale University), which explores the early modern period of maritime Southeast Asia.

The question-and-answer session unfolded dynamically, with discussions ranging from how Japanese and Indonesian societies differently perceive the relationship between religion and national history, to the contrasting perspectives of Japanese, Western, and Indonesian historians in interpreting Islamicate culture in the archipelago.

This public lecture offered fresh insights for students and academics on cross-cultural approaches to the historiography of Indonesian Islam while also strengthening international academic networks.

The event aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by fostering historical literacy and critical understanding, as well as SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through academic collaboration across nations.

[Public Relations Office, FIB UGM – Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, 17 September 2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), hosted a school visit from SMA Cikal Amri, East Jakarta. The event was warmly received by the Public Relations team of FIB UGM and provided students with the opportunity to experience academic life and the campus environment at UGM.

The program began with a presentation on the history of FIB UGM, its vision and mission, as well as various academic and non-academic activities. The interactive session allowed students to ask questions and gain deeper insights into learning opportunities and student life at FIB UGM.

After the presentation, the group joined a faculty tour. On the fourth floor, they were introduced to the Indonesian Language and Culture Learning Service (INCULS), a unit that facilitates Indonesian language and cultural learning for international students. The tour continued to Gedung Margono, home to various study programs of FIB UGM. In the same building, students were also invited to visit the Mandala Majapahit Archaeology Museum and the Archaeology Laboratory, both of which play an important role in supporting research and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Through this visit, the students of SMA Cikal Amri not only gained new insights into academic life but also experienced firsthand the importance of preserving language, literature, and culture in both national and international contexts.

This activity reflects FIB UGM’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education through the introduction of inclusive access to higher education, and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities through the preservation of cultural heritage in its museum and archaeology laboratory.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, Thursday, September 18, 2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), has once again marked an important academic milestone with the completion of a doctoral research in philology. Rahmat, a doctoral candidate in the Humanities Study Program, successfully defended his dissertation entitled “The Implementation of Serat Sèstradi in Pakualaman Folktales: A Philological Study.” The research was supervised by Promoter Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., and Co-Promoter Dr. Sri Ratna Sakti Mulya, M.Hum.

This dissertation is rooted in the reality that Javanese literature in the Duchy of Pakualaman continues to serve as an intellectual legacy to this day. Literary works, particularly folktales, were produced for internal educational purposes and transmitted across generations. However, the diversity and depth of Pakualaman folktales have not been fully explored in previous scholarly studies.

In his research, Rahmat undertook a comprehensive approach that included inventory, description, transliteration, editing, and translation of folktale texts. He also analyzed the formal structures of the texts and revealed their purposes of creation. Through a critical edition method, the study presents thirteen manuscripts comprising a total of thirty-seven edited and translated folktales.

The findings show that Pakualaman folktales are generally composed in tembang macapat poetic form, containing core ideas and accompanied by liding dongèng or moral messages. These texts were not created merely for entertainment but also served as sources of knowledge and tools for character education. The embedded sèstradi values highlight the binary opposition of good and bad characters, functioning as moral guidance for the younger generation of Pakualaman to grow into noble individuals.

Rahmat further revealed that the creation of these folktales was influenced by the lèlaku (life experiences) of Pakualam as well as the historical context of their time. The messages conveyed through the texts emphasize the cultivation of resilience, perseverance in facing hardships, and the preparation of future generations to embrace societal changes. Thus, Pakualaman folktales function not only as literary heritage but also as vehicles of moral education and wisdom for life. This dissertation defence was also attended by the representatives of Pura Pakualaman GKBRAy Adipati Paku Alam X, GPH Indrokusumo, BRAy Indrokusumo, and GPH Wijoyo Harimurti.

This research contributes significantly to the preservation of Javanese cultural heritage and enriches the field of philology in Indonesia. Moreover, the dissertation aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, by strengthening character education based on local wisdom. It also relates to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, through the preservation of cultural values and traditions that constitute the historical identity of the Pakualaman Duchy.

[Public Relations Office, FIB UGM – Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, 17/9/2025 – The Master’s Program in Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, organized an academic workshop themed “Breaking Into Reputable Journals: Strategies for Writing and Publishing Academic Articles.” The event, held on Wednesday (17/9) at Auditorium C, Poerbatjaraka Building, featured two keynote speakers: Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA., professor at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, and Adwidya Susila Yoga, S.Pd., M.A., an academic as well as a practitioner in scientific publishing. The session was moderated by Nada Nadillah.

In her presentation, Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro emphasized that writing for reputable journals requires decisiveness in selecting the issue and accuracy in building methodological frameworks. “The first thing to pay attention to is the material or issue. A strong issue is one that is specific, contextual, and intellectually challenging. Do not fall into the trap of cliché topics,” she explained.

She gave examples of fresh entry points in literary research, such as LGBTQ+ issues in Muslim-majority countries, abortion debates in Muslim contexts, and the rebellion of Indonesian women writers against male-dominated literary traditions.

Prof. Wening also highlighted the importance of a novelty-based literature review. “The literature review is the foundation. It is from there that we can demonstrate our contribution to academic debates. If we only repeat previous studies, our work will not be considered competent,” she stressed.

The second session, delivered by Adwidya Susila Yoga, S.Pd., M.A., underlined the importance of accuracy in identifying target journals and the necessity of determining clear topics. “Writing an article cannot be separated from mapping the topic and having a clear storyline. After that, we need to do optimal sourcing—do not let references pile up only in the introduction while being scarce in the discussion. The next step is the ‘journal hunt,’ which means finding journals that match the topic, are consistent, and have a good reputation,” he explained.

He also warned participants about the dangers of predatory journals. “If a journal has an excessively high publication frequency, an unusually fast review process, an invalid E-ISSN, or ambiguous publication fees, we need to be cautious. Those are usually signs of a predatory journal,” he cautioned.

Furthermore, Adwidya encouraged students to utilize digital tools. “Use digital platforms such as Grammarly, DeepL, Vosviewer, and even AI—but their use must be academically accountable. Do not just use them recklessly,” he noted.

The workshop continued dynamically with a Q&A session between participants and speakers. Naria (Master’s in Literature) raised a question regarding the selection of research material: “Should research objects be literary works that have already received awards? And should research questions always be derived from theory?” she asked.

Responding to this, Prof. Wening stated, “Research objects do not have to be award-winning works. What matters most is the issue we want to bring forward. Focus on novelty and the perspective we present, not the credibility of the text itself. As for research questions, they can arise from the problems we want to examine, not necessarily from theory alone.”

Meanwhile, Andi (Master’s in Public Administration) asked about balancing local research with global issues. “Indonesia’s research strength lies in its rich empirical evidence. How can we balance this with global issues to ensure relevance?” he inquired.

Prof. Wening emphasized, “The key is to focus on contextual issues while still opening up to global debates. Take issues that others may not be familiar with, then connect them to wider discourses. That way, our research will gain international appeal.”

This workshop successfully provided in-depth insights into strategies for writing academic articles and breaking into reputable journals. Participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also practical guidance from the speakers. With this momentum, the Master’s Program in Literature at FIB UGM hopes its students can produce high-quality, contributive scholarly works capable of competing at both national and international levels.

Author: Marsya Kamila / Public Relations, Master’s Program in Literature